Delay in recording second track

[Cobalt765]

I'm a real novice when it comes to this stuff. I've never done any recording but not too bad at general techy stuff. I've got a Behringer QX1202USB mixer which came with the Tracktion 5 software. I've managed to work out how to record tracks without changing too much but I find that when recording a second track ie lead over rythym or harmony over another vocal, there is a slight delay of the second track when both tracks are played back together.

For playback of the original track, I'm just using the laptop speakers. I believe it could be a latency issue though really don't know what this means apart from the output sound going through the Tracktion software and out of the speakers causes a bit of a delay.

Both my USB buttons are up on the mixer and I've tried changing the output source to be my 'main out' and therefore hear it through my powered speaker but to do this I have to press one of the USB buttons in that then won't let me record.

I've downloaded the ASIO4ALL software but not really sure how it works or what it does. I know my post if a bit vague but hoping someone out there knows what I'm talking about and a suggested fix.

[frankvg]

It depends on your audio buffer size (settings page, audio settings).
Large buffer sizes introduce latency so that is not optimal for recording. Too small could be too heavy on the system. Try 128 or 256 and see if that helps.

[Kang]

In the properties menu of the input you are using the is a something called 'time adjust'. This compensates for any latency on your over-dubs. You just need to find a way to connect your output to your input so that you can use 'auto detect'. I go from my headphone out to my input, but you might not have the correct cabling. If there is no way to do this you could try to figure out what to set it to by moving the clips and taking note of how many milliseconds. Usually all the inputs of the interface have the same latency so you only need to do it once and then there is an option to have it set all inputs the same.

Keep in mind your time adjust setting will change based on your buffer, but you can set the buffer higher if you are using your software mixer to monitor your signal, because Tracktion will line it (the overdub) up for you once you have it set up correctly. Hope that helps.

[Kang]

What OS are you in by the way? Is ASIO4ALL so that you can use the mixer to record and the computer speakers to play back? I've personally never had much luck with ASIO4ALL, it's worth a shot but I can envision possible problems.

If that doesnt work you might consider using the behringer mixer with headphones when you overdub. Then you could just run a guitar cable from headphone out to one of the mixer inputs to do the time adjust thing mentioned earlier.

[busywait]

I'm assuming that you running Tracktion on a Windows PC. Regardless of the OS, Tracktion has a setting called "Time Adjust" in the Settings > Audio device > [Select an input] > Properties panel. It also has an "Auto detect" option to help you get the right number in there.

ASIO4All is a wonderful thing for reducing latency of built in sound cards on Windows machines. Reducing the latency can make it easier to monitor recordings with effects, or virtual instruments. However you might not need ASIO4All.

Look in the Tracktion tab called "Settings". Choose Settings > Audio. There is a drop-down labelled "Audio device type". If you have ASIO4All installed, you can select ASIO here. Before that you are probably using "Windows Audio". Whichever one you are using, you will see a list of the available inputs on the right. Select one, and then you will see a properties panel for the input near the bottom of the screen. (As kang said, above) the "Time adjust" input lets you tell Tracktion how much you want it to shift any recorded audio by to fix up the issue that you're seeing. There's an "Auto adjust" option that can measure the value if you route the played sound from traction back to the inputs (either with a cable, or maybe holding headphones up against your mic), and the adjustment will vary when you change the buffer size. (The adjustment might also jitter about a little).

If you do install ASIO4All then I advise that you choose/enable the "Offline settings" component that is listed as "useless" in the installer - you might need it if ASIO4All gets confused about what audio devices are available.

[gigazaga]

I'm assuming that you running Tracktion on a Windows PC. Regardless of the OS, Tracktion has a setting called "Time Adjust" in the Settings > Audio device > [Select an input] > Properties panel. It also has an "Auto detect" option to help you get the right number in there.

ASIO4All is a wonderful thing for reducing latency of built in sound cards on Windows machines. Reducing the latency can make it easier to monitor recordings with effects, or virtual instruments. However you might not need ASIO4All.

Look in the Tracktion tab called "Settings". Choose Settings > Audio. There is a drop-down labelled "Audio device type". If you have ASIO4All installed, you can select ASIO here. Before that you are probably using "Windows Audio". Whichever one you are using, you will see a list of the available inputs on the right. Select one, and then you will see a properties panel for the input near the bottom of the screen. (As kang said, above) the "Time adjust" input lets you tell Tracktion how much you want it to shift any recorded audio by to fix up the issue that you're seeing. There's an "Auto adjust" option that can measure the value if you route the played sound from traction back to the inputs (either with a cable, or maybe holding headphones up against your mic), and the adjustment will vary when you change the buffer size.

Yes, this is necessary for recording to sync. If you do this it will be perfect. If not it will always be off, sometimes by a lot. You need to rerun the Auto Adjust every time you change the buffer size.

[Cobalt765]

Thankyou everyone for the responses, I'll try these things and re-post how I go for others information.

[Peter Widdicombe]

The type of USB device can make a difference. I was driven crazy when I was using the USB interface on a Mackie ProFX 12, and was always playing with delays to get it right. Then it's USB just quit working reliably at all, and I got a Behringer UCA222, and reliability and timing issues have gone away.